JP2001318410A - Flash light emitting device, and device and camera equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate trouble that a flash light emitting device becomes larger because an Xe tube installed inside the flash light emitting device must be made longer in order to increase light quantity and improve durability and that it is inconvenient for a high-level amateur that the flash light emitting device automatically emits light. SOLUTION: An armor member constituting the armor of this flash light emitting device is provided with a projecting part which is projected on the front surface side of the armor member and has a recessed space on the back surface side thereof, and at least part of a component member installed inside the flash light emitting device is housed in the recessed space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flash device, an apparatus provided with the flash device, and a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image pickup apparatus provided with a flash light emitting device which emits light at the time of photographing in order to compensate for insufficient exposure at the time of photographing.

[0003] In an image pickup apparatus provided with this flash light emitting device, the flash light emitting device is attached to an image pickup device main body.
There is a so-called pop-up type that moves between a storage position integrally stored on the outer surface of the imaging device main body and a projecting position protruding from the imaging device main body. This pop-up type imaging device can prevent the flash from vignetting at the end of the taking lens by moving the flash light emitting device to a position away from the optical axis of the taking lens, and can reduce the so-called red-eye effect. For this reason, they have been widely used in imaging devices such as cameras.

In the pop-up type image pickup apparatus, the image pickup apparatus automatically determines the surroundings of photographing and moves a motor or a plunger to automatically move the flash light emitting device to the projecting position. And a user manually moves the flash light emitting device to the projecting position by operating a button, a knob, or the like provided on the imaging device.

On the other hand, recently, in order to give a high-quality feeling to the image pickup device, an image pickup device using a metal for the exterior is increasing. There is also known an apparatus provided with an inner member made of plastic or the like that plays a role of a shield.

[0006]

In order to increase the photographing area by increasing the guide number, and to enhance convenience and functionality at the time of photographing, not only beginner models but also advanced models incorporate a flash light emitting device. However, in this case, an increase in the amount of light emission and improvement in durability are indispensable conditions. The above condition can be satisfied by, for example, lengthening a discharge tube (hereinafter referred to as Xe tube) filled with xenon gas, which is a light emitting source of the flash light emitting device. This leads to an increase in size.

[0007] For photographing beginners, when it is necessary to compensate for the underexposure by emitting light from the flash light emitting device, for example, when the surroundings of the shooting are dark, the flash light emitting device automatically moves to the protruding position. Although having the light-emission reduces the number of photographing failures, on the other hand, for high amateurs who have a lot of shooting experience, it is difficult for the flash light-emitting device to emit light automatically. It is often desired to manually move the flash light emitting device to the protruding position because it is more intuitive to make the flash light emitting device emit light manually.

Here, even when the flash light emitting device is manually moved to the protruding position, for example, the stopper holding the flash light emitting device in the storage position is removed by pressing a button, and the spring force is used. Moving the flash light emitting device to the protruding position requires a large number of components to realize such a mechanism, and increases the cost.

On the other hand, if a knob is provided on the side of the flash light emitting device so that a finger can be hooked, and the knob is pulled up to move the flash light emitting device to the projecting position, many parts are used. Since there is no camera, the cost can be reduced, and an intuitive operation can be performed in photographing. Therefore, the operability of the imaging device is improved for the high amateur.

However, at present, as the number of cases in which metal is used for the exterior of the image pickup device is increasing, it is difficult to form a protruding shape that is easy to put a finger on the flash light emitting device whose exterior is made of metal.

[0011]

According to the flash light emitting device of the present invention, the device is attached to the device main body and moves between a storage position stored in the device main body and a projecting position protruding from the device main body. In a possible flash light emitting device, a part to which a finger is put when manually moving the flash light emitting device to the projecting position on an exterior member constituting an exterior of the flash light emitting device, and on a surface side of the exterior member A convex member having a convex space and a concave space on the back side is provided, and at least a part of the components provided inside the flash light emitting device is accommodated in the concave space, so that the entire size of the flash light emitting device is reduced. In addition, the operability of the imaging device can be improved for a high amateur or the like.

In addition, by providing a metal cover having an opening for exposing the convex portion and covering a surface side of the exterior member, the convex portion need not be formed of a metal material.

Note that the flash light emitting device of the present invention can be provided in a device such as a camera.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of an image pickup apparatus provided with a flash light emitting device according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a camera which is an image pickup apparatus.

A flash light emitting device 1 is supported by the upper lid 101 so as to be rotatable between a protruding position and a storage position. If the flash light emitting device 1 is at the protruding position, the flash light emitting device 1 emits light at the time of photographing.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a mode dial for selecting a shooting mode of the camera. Reference numeral 103 denotes an electronic dial for setting and changing various functions of the camera.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a release button which is depressed at the time of photographing. Reference numeral 105 denotes a mount provided on the camera body 100 side, which engages with a mount provided on the photographing lens (not shown).

Reference numeral 106 denotes a lock pin.
, And is fixed to the camera body 100 by engaging with a hole (not shown) provided in the mount portion on the photographing lens side.

Reference numeral 107 denotes an unlock button. When the lock button 106 is pushed in, the lock pin 106 is retracted from the mount surface on the camera body 100 side, and the photographing lens is moved to the camera body 10.
Make it removable from 0.

Reference numeral 108 denotes an information display unit for displaying various information of the camera. Reference numeral 109 denotes an accessory shoe for mounting an external flash light emitting device different from the flash light emitting device 1.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a reflection mirror which reflects a subject image and sends it to a finder (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the flash light emitting device 1.

Reference numeral 1a denotes an exterior cover, which constitutes the exterior of the flash light emitting device 1, and includes a finger hook 1b, a locking claw 1c, and a positioning pin 1d.

The finger hook 1b is formed in a convex shape from the surface side of the outer cover 1a, and is provided symmetrically on both side surfaces of the outer cover 1a. The finger hook 1b is a portion where a finger is hooked when the flash light emitting device 1 is manually moved from the storage position to the protruding position.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a case, and a positioning hole 2a, a locking hole 2
b, rotating shaft hole 2c, movable range regulating groove 2d, fitting pin 2
e, an arrangement groove 2f and an evacuation hole 2g, and various members described below are arranged. In addition, locking hole 2b
The exterior cover 1a is fixed to the case 2 by engaging the positioning claw 1c with the locking claw 1c and inserting the positioning pin 1d into the positioning hole 2a.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a Fresnel panel which emits light to the outside when photographing using the flash light emitting device 1.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotation shaft, which is fixed to the upper lid 101 via the rotation shaft hole 2c, and rotatably supports the flash light emitting device 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a stopper shaft, which is a movable range regulating groove 2d.
Is fixed to the upper lid 101 through the upper surface of the movable range restricting groove 2d to restrict the range in which the flash light emitting device 1 rotates.

Numeral 6 denotes a toggle spring whose both ends are formed in an annular shape.
The other end is fitted into the fitting pin 2e, and this spring force acts in a direction to separate the stopper shaft 5 from the fitting pin 2e.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an Xe tube which is a light emission source of the flash light emitting device 1, and is arranged in parallel with the rotation axis of the flash light emitting device 1. Both ends of the Xe tube 7 are connected via leads 11 to a control unit (not shown) built in the camera body 100.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a silicon material that covers a portion where both ends of the Xe tube 7 and the lead wire 11 are connected, and prevents electric leakage. 9
Is a reflector, and surrounds the periphery of the Xe tube 7 so as to reflect light emitted from the Xe tube 7 toward the Fresnel panel 3.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a trigger coil fitted in the arrangement groove 2f, which is connected to the control unit and the reflector 9 via a lead wire 11.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flash light emitting device 1 as viewed from the front.

Reference numeral 1e denotes a concave portion, which is formed in a concave shape on the back surface side of the finger hook portion 1b.
Is housed. The silicon material 8 must be provided inside the flash light emitting device 1. For this purpose, a space for mounting the silicon material 8 inside the flash light emitting unit 1 is required, and this space is generated in the concave portion 1e. Uses space.

Here, the position where the finger hook 1b is provided on the cover 1a is determined by the position where the Xe tube 7 is disposed inside the flashlight emitting device 1. Further, the length of the protruding portion of the finger hook 1b is determined according to the size of the silicon material 8.

By arranging the elongated Xe tube 7 at the protruding portion of the flash light emitting device 1, it is necessary to make the width of the flash light emitting device correspond to the length of the elongated Xe tube 7 as a whole. And the overall size of the flash light emitting device can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the position at which the finger hook 1b is provided on the exterior cover 1a is set in accordance with the installation position of the Xe tube 7, but the present invention is not limited to this. Can be set as appropriate. In this case, in addition to the silicon material 8, for example, the space provided inside the finger hook 1b is provided inside the flash light emitting device 1 such as the trigger coil 6. The member may be accommodated. Further, the number of the finger hooks 1b provided on the exterior cover 1a can be appropriately set.

Next, how the flash light emitting device 1 is rotated from the storage position to the protruding position will be described.

When the flash light emitting device 1 is at the storage position (FIG. 4), the stopper shaft 5 is located above the movable range regulating groove 2d. The spring force of the toggle spring 6 fitted on the stopper shaft 5 and the fitting pin 2e acts in a direction to separate the stopper shaft 5 and the fitting pin 2e.
The stopper 2h provided on the lower surface of the case 2 is
The flash light emitting device 1 is held at the storage position by abutting on the light emitting device 1.

When the flashlight emitting device 1 is manually rotated with the finger on the finger hook 1b in the direction of the projecting position (counterclockwise in FIG. 4), the stopper shaft 5 moves along the longitudinal direction of the movable range regulating groove 2d. And the toggle spring 6 rotates counterclockwise about the stopper shaft 5. With the rotation of the toggle spring 6, the coil-shaped portion of the toggle spring 6 enters the retreat hole 2g, so that the flash light emitting device 1 rotates to the protruding position without the rotation being hindered by the toggle spring 6.

When the flash light emitting device 1 comes to the projecting position (FIG. 5), the stopper shaft 5 comes into contact with the lower surface of the movable range regulating groove 2d. Since the spring force of the toggle spring 6 acts in the direction to separate the stopper shaft 5 and the fitting pin 2e, the flash light emitting device 1 is held at the projecting position.

(Second Embodiment) A flash light emitting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The flash light emitting device 1 of the present embodiment is used for a device whose exterior is made of metal, such as a camera.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the structure of the flash light emitting device of the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a metal cover made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and has an opening 20a and a holding portion 20b.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a non-conductive inner cover (corresponding to an exterior member in the first aspect of the present invention).
a, a relief 21c and a locking claw 21b. Plastic or the like can be used as a material. The finger hooks 21a are symmetrically provided on both side surfaces of the inner cover 21 one by one.

By using a non-conductive resin as the material for forming the inner cover 21, a protruding shape such as the finger hook 21a can be easily formed, and electricity from the inside of the flash light emitting device can be transmitted to the outside. It can block transmission.

The metal cover 20 is fixed so as to cover the entire surface of the inner cover 21 by fitting the finger hook portion 21a into the opening portion 20a and engaging the holding portion 20b with the escape portion 21c. It is exposed from the surface of the cover 20. Thus, the flash light emitting device 1 is formed by covering the inner cover 21 with the metal cover 20.
Is made of metal, and the exterior of the entire camera can be unified with metal.

The internal structure of the flash light emitting device according to this embodiment is the same as the internal structure of the flash light emitting device 1 described in the first embodiment. That is, the case 22 has the positioning holes 22.
a, locking hole 22b, rotating shaft hole 22c, movable range regulating groove 2
2d, a fitting pin 22e, an arrangement groove 22f, an evacuation hole 22g, and a stopper 22h. The case 22 includes a Fresnel panel 2, a rotating shaft 4, a stopper shaft 5, a toggle spring 6, and Xe.
Tube 7, silicon material 8, reflector 9, trigger coil 10,
Lead wire 11 is arranged.

Further, a concave portion is provided inside the finger hook portion 21a as in the first embodiment, and a part of the silicon material 8 is accommodated in a space formed in the concave portion.

In this embodiment, the finger hook 2
The position at which the cover 1a is provided on the cover 20 can be set as appropriate, and a space other than the silicon material 8 such as the trigger coil 10 can be accommodated in the space formed inside the concave portion.

[0051]

According to the flash light emitting device of the present invention, the flash light emitting device is manually protruded by putting a finger on the convex portion provided on the exterior member constituting the exterior of the flash light emitting device and pulling it. Since it can be moved to a position, the operability of the imaging device can be further improved for the high amateur or the like.

Further, by making the rear surface side of the convex portion concave, and accommodating the constituent members constituting the inside of the flash light emitting device in this concave space, the entire flash light emitting device can be downsized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a camera including a flash light emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structure of a flash light emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the flash light emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the flash light emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the flash light emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flash light emitting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a structure of a flash light emitting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 flash light emitting device 1a exterior cover 1b finger hook 1c locking claw 1d positioning pin 1e concave portion 2 case 2a, 22a positioning hole 2b, 22b locking hole 2c, 22c rotating shaft hole 2d, 22d movable range regulating groove 2e, 22e Fitting pins 2f, 22f Arrangement grooves 2g, 22g Evacuation holes 2h, 22h Stopper 3 Fresnel panel 4 Rotating shaft 5 Stopper shaft 6 Toggle spring 7 Xenon tube 8 Silicon material 9 Reflector umbrella 10 Trigger coil 11 Lead wire 20 Metal cover 20a Opening 20b Holder 21 Inner Cover 21a Finger Holder 21b Locking Claw 21c Escape 100 Camera Body 101 Top Lid 102 Mode Dial 103 Electronic Dial 104 Release Button 105 Mount 106 Lock Pin 107 Unlock Button 108 Information Display 10 Accessory shoe 110 reflection mirror

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A flash light emitting device attached to a device main body and movable between a storage position stored in the device main body and a protruding position protruding from the device main body, wherein an exterior of the flash light emitting device is provided. The exterior member to be configured is a portion to which a finger is hung when manually moving the flash light emitting device to the protruding position, which is convex on the front surface side of the exterior member, and has a convex portion having a concave space on the back surface side. A flash light emitting device, wherein at least a part of a component member provided inside the flash light emitting device is accommodated in the concave space. 2. The flash light emitting device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said convex portions. 3. The convex portion is provided symmetrically on both side surfaces of the exterior member, and the constituent members are accommodated on substantially the same straight line extending from one end to the other end of the convex portion. The flash light emitting device according to claim 1. 4. A metal cover which is formed of a metal material, has an opening for exposing said convex portion, and has a metal cover for covering a surface side of said exterior member.
A flash light-emitting device according to any one of the above. 5. The flash light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein at least the convex portion is made of a non-conductive resin. 6. The flash light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the constituent member is a discharge tube. 7. The flash light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the constituent member is an insulating member covering a terminal of the discharge tube. 8. A device comprising the flash light emitting device according to claim 1. 9. A camera comprising the flash light emitting device according to claim 1.